Canine Truffle Hunting,Training And Tours!

Services

Truffle Dog Training

Our truffle dog training courses, from beginners to advanced, are all about hands-on, one-on-one learning with you and your pup. With Kovu, our seasoned truffle dog, we'll show you the ropes through practical demos and easy-to-follow coursework. We'll figure out what makes your dog tick and with our help and special training kits, you'll have your dog sniffing out truffles like a pro in no time. Get in touch for rates and availability, and let’s make your dog a truffle-hunting legend!

Truffle Dog Hunting

Maximize your truffle harvest with Kovu, our expert truffle dog. A single visit from Kovu can reveal truffles ready now and those ripening soon, giving you weeks' worth of hunting in one session. Kovu works tirelessly, checking up to 250 trees per hour, with a short break in between. His debut season in 2018 was a triumph, finding over 11 kilograms of truffles across six farms. For optimal results, have your staff harvest while Kovu and I mark the truffles. Even if you already have a truffle dog, Kovu’s unique skills have uncovered what others miss. Contact us for rates and availability, and let’s enhance your truffle hunts together!

Truffle Dog Tours

If you've got a truffle farm and need a top-notch dog for your truffle hunting tours, Kovu is ready to jump in. Previously certified as a Therapy Dog through Alpha Canine Professionals and Delta Therapy Dogs, Kovu is used to crowds from his regular visits to aged care homes, hospitals, universities, and businesses. People love watching Kovu's unique reward system—either catching a ball mid-air or playing tug-of-war with me—as a reward for finding the perfect truffle. It feels like a dog show and is highly entertaining for guests! When it comes to truffle hunting, he's all business, greeting guests briefly before focusing solely on the hunt, ignoring distractions like people, ducks, kangaroos, or other dogs. With experience leading private tours at Truffle Treasures near Daylesford and running multiple hunts daily at Red Hill Truffle’s Hunting and Dining Experiences in 2023, Kovu is the perfect partner for your truffle tours. Email me for rates and availability, and let's make your tours unforgettable with Kovu’s expertise!

Blogs

Testimonials

Truffle Dog Training April 2024

"I began training Bert in truffle scent work when he was a very young puppy. I was just following my nose, until we recently did a weekend intensive with Simone. Her impressive knowledge, and ability to communicate and to teach was inspirational. Simone taught us step by step through theory and practice. Watching her handle Bert and her own truffle dogs and then practising ourselves under her guidance gave us new skills and confidence to head into the truffle season. Since then, Simone is providing valuable support and feedback as we work with Bert in the truffiere. Her skill in truffle dog training and her knowledge of the truffle industry has really helped ignite my own interest. Thanks Simone, you're a legend!" -Kim, Araluen Truffles

Truffle Hunting July -August 2024

"After purchasing a beautiful property on the Ovens River in Bright, Victoria, we were fortunate to acquire an established truffiere. Confronted with out first truffle harvest without a trained dog, we had to hunt for the "Truffle Hunter". Simone and her awesome pair, Kovu and Zara, an amazing team in so many areas; efficient, punctual, organised and open to share invaluable advise. Was our first truffle season successful? My word it was, harvesting 20kgs in three hunts. A mind blowing 6 kg harvest in 2.5 hours hunt in mid July and 9.6kg in 5.5 hours in August, was extraordinary. The teamwork, connection and work ethic from Simone and her companions, Kovu and Zara, was impressive. We can't thank Simone enough for the wonderful service she provided from the very first phone call, the distance she travelled and the pleasure of her company. We highly recommend the Canine Truffle Hunting Team to all potential Truffle Growers." -Simon and Melissa Male - Alpine Valley Truffles

Truffle Dog Training: Intermediate January 2024 - March 2024

"Training my truffle dog, Boogie, with Simone Thomas has been a game-changer. Simone breaks down the process into clear, manageable steps and explains not just what to do, but why it works — even going into canine anatomy and behaviour so you truly understand your dog’s instincts. One of the biggest surprises was how much of the training actually focused on me — my timing, my body language, my ability to read Boogie’s signals. Simone made it clear that a successful truffle team starts with an informed, attentive handler. She’s always available in the background for advice, and genuinely invested in our journey. Watching her work with her own dog shows exactly what excellence looks like — calm, connected, and precise. If you want real results and a deeper bond with your dog, Simone is the truffle dog trainer you’re looking for." - Michelle - Scotch Hill Farm (Gippsland, Victoria)